Christians in Jaranwala, Pakistan, Acquitted of Blasphemy Charges

A judge in Pakistan on Friday (March 1) acquitted two Christian brothers of false blasphemy charges that had led to Muslims attacking Christian homes and businesses in Jaranwala last year, sources said.

Faisalabad Anti-Terrorism According to Tahir Bashir, the brothers’ attorney, Judge Muhammad Hussain ordered the acquittal of Umar Saleem, alias Rocky, and Umair Saleem, alias Raja, after a police investigation revealed that three other Christians with personal animosity toward them had framed them.

The three Christians who made the false accusations of desecrating the Quran and writing blasphemous words have been arrested and charged with blasphemy, he said.

Hundreds of Christians had fled Jaranwala when rioters attacked on August 16, setting church buildings ablaze and raiding homes. The mob was estimated to have numbered around 5,000 at its peak, spurred by mosque loudspeakers announcing the Quran had been desecrated and derogatory words written against Muhammad, Islam’s prophet.

A police investigation exonerated both Christians, after which the court set them free, Bashir said.

“I filed an application under Section 265-K of the Criminal Procedure Code [Cr PC] contending that no incriminating material was available against the two brothers, and nothing had been recovered from their possession, so proceeding against them would be futile,” Bashir said.

Section 265-K empowers courts to acquit a suspect even before charges are filed. Bashir said that after hearing his arguments, the court acquitted both brothers, who were released following his order.

The brothers had been charged under sections of Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy law with “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings” (Sections 295-A), defiling the Quran (295-B), and derogatory remarks about Muhammad (295-C), which carry a mandatory death penalty. They were also charged under Section 9 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, which pertains to the “prohibition of acts intended or likely to stir up sectarian hatred.”

To date, no death sentence has been carried out under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws.

Muslim mobs damaged and ransacked dozens of Christian homes and about 20 church buildings in Jaranwala after the accusations surfaced. Faisalabad police detained more than 300 suspects.

At a recent hearing for a case involving the Jaranwala attacks, the Supreme Court’s justices expressed their regret that troublemakers who incite people to attack the property of religious minorities intimidate state officials.

The court also rejected a report by the Punjab government, with justices noting that how police carried out the investigation and their apparent hesitation in identifying culprits would only bring shame to the force.

Pakistan’s blasphemy law Pakistan’s strongly upheld Islamist parties mandate the death penalty for defaming Muhammad and making insulting the Quran or Islam punishable by life imprisonment.

Unproven allegations of offending Islam can lead to murders and lynchings. Christians, who make up less than 2 percent of Pakistan’s population, are Pakistan’s lowest social strata and frequently fall victim to baseless blasphemy claims. Other religious minorities, as well as politicians, lawyers, and students, have been killed over similar accusations or for defending those accused of blasphemy.

Pakistan ranked seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch Doors list of the most challenging places to be a Christian, as it was the previous year.